After flak from farmer bodies, Opposition parties, AAP govt withdraws Punjab land pooling policy

The Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government had been facing flak from the opposition parties and various farmer bodies, which dubbed the land pooling policy a "looting" scheme aimed at "robbing" farmers of their land

The AAP government in Punjab withdrew its land pooling policy on Monday in the face of stiff opposition from rival political parties and farmer bodies.

Although the government had been vehemently defending the policy, the Punjab and Haryana High Court, a few days ago, ordered an interim stay on its implementation for four weeks.

According to the now-scrapped policy, a land owner would be given a 1,000 square yard residential plot and a 200 square yard commercial plot in fully developed land in lieu of one acre of land.

On Monday evening, the principal secretary in the Department of Housing and Urban Development said, "The government hereby withdraws the land pooling policy dated May 14 and its subsequent amendments." "Consequently, all actions, like letters of intent issued, registration done, or any other action taken thereunder shall be reversed henceforth," according to the statement.

On August 7, the high court, while ordering an interim stay on the policy, had held that it appears to have been notified in haste and concerns, including social impact assessment and environmental impact assessment, should have been addressed before its notification.

The Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government had been facing flak from the opposition parties and various farmer bodies, which dubbed the land pooling policy a "looting" scheme aimed at "robbing" farmers of their land.

The Shiromani Akali Dal, the BJP and the Congress, among others, had held multiple protests against the policy while various farmer bodies, including the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, had also planned demonstrations and protests.

The AAP had hit out at the opposition parties for spreading "propaganda" against the state government's policy, with party leaders describing it as "farmers-friendly".

The state government had planned to acquire around 65,000 acres of land in 164 villages, including in Ludhiana, to develop residential and industrial zones.

It had earlier assured people that not a single yard of land would be forcibly acquired from the owners and had emphasised that the policy was designed to foster transparent and planned urban development across the state.